The Medium

The Medium presents a unique challenge for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 pairing, a combination that blends a capable six-core Zen 2 processor with a Pascal-era graphics card. The measured data reveals a system that is firmly positioned in the lower half of the database, with its performance heavily dictated by the demanding visual load of this fixed-camera horror title. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates to show exactly where this combo excels and where it struggles, providing a clear picture for anyone considering this hardware for the game.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 + GTX 1070 combo in The Medium?

A: The combination ranks at 1414 out of 1689 tested combos, placing it in the lower 16% of all systems in our database for this specific title.

Q: Can this system achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1920x1080?

A: Yes, but only at the Low settings preset, where it achieves an average of 73.6 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 45.7 FPS, indicating that higher presets will not maintain a 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600's processing power compare to its closest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score of 18129 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-11400 and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, showing it is performance-neutral in this comparison.

Q: What is the impact of the GTX 1070's memory configuration on 4K performance?

A: With 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU provides a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. Despite this, even at Low settings, the 4K average of 46.7 FPS suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution.

Q: Which resolution provides the best balance of visual quality and performance?

A: The data indicates 2560x1440 with Low settings is the sweet spot, delivering a strong 64.5 FPS average. This is significantly smoother than the 37.9 FPS seen at Medium settings on the same resolution.

Q: Is the GTX 1070 better or worse than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER?

A: The GTX 1070 has an average benchmark score of 12331, which is 1.4% lower than the GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER's score of 12504. This makes the GTX 1070 marginally slower in synthetic tests.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the defining component for The Medium's performance, and its specifications clearly show why. The GPU is built on the Pascal architecture and features a base clock of 1506 MHz that boosts to 1683 MHz. This, combined with its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, yields a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. For a game with fixed camera angles and heavy pre-rendered scenes, this bandwidth and the GPU's raw compute power of 6.463 TFLOPS are critical for streaming textures and handling the game's lighting effects.

The benchmark results show a clear pattern: the GTX 1070's performance is heavily stressed as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the GPU can deliver playable frame rates, but at 3840x2160, it falls well below 30 FPS at most settings. The data suggests that the GPU's processing power, not the CPU, is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the system drops to 17.8 FPS, a figure that indicates the graphics card is overwhelmed. The GPU's 51 percentile ranking among all GPUs further underscores its mid-range standing in 2024, making it a component that requires careful settings management for demanding titles like The Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places the Ryzen 5 3600 + GTX 1070 combination at rank 1414 out of 1689 tested combos for The Medium. This percentile placement is a direct result of the GTX 1070's age. While the CPU is a strong performer, the GPU's relative weakness in this specific title drags the overall combo ranking down. The data shows that the CPU is not the bottleneck; its average benchmark score of 18129 places it in the 76th percentile of all CPUs. In contrast, the GPU's average score of 12331 places it in the 51st percentile.

This discrepancy highlights that the pairing is unbalanced for this game. The Ryzen 5 3600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is capable, but it is held back by the GTX 1070. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the differences between Low and High settings are substantial, showing the GPU is working at its limit. The combo's performance is not a reflection of a poor CPU, but rather proof of how demanding The Medium is on graphics hardware. The rank of 1414 serves as a warning that this system is not equipped for high-fidelity experiences in this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear hierarchy for optimizing the game experience. The primary goal for most players is a stable 60 FPS, and the data shows that this is only achievable at the Low preset. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system averages 73.6 FPS, providing a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. Moving up to Medium at the same resolution yields 45.7 FPS, which is a significant drop and may be noticeable in a game that relies on a consistent frame rate for its atmospheric tension.

For players with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is again the only viable option for smooth gameplay, delivering 64.5 FPS. The jump to Medium at this resolution results in a 37.9 FPS average, which is not ideal for a smooth experience. At 4K, the system is not capable of providing a consistent 60 FPS experience at any setting, with the playable Low preset achieving 46.7 FPS. Therefore, the recommendation is to use the Low preset for a 60 FPS target at 1080p or 1440p. For those who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p offers a better-looking, albeit less smooth, experience. High and Ultra presets should be avoided, as they result in average frame rates below 36 FPS at all resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a predictable performance curve. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best results. The Low preset achieves an average of 73.6 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combo. The Medium preset follows at 45.7 FPS, with High at 35.1 FPS and Ultra at 29.7 FPS. This shows a steep decline in performance as graphical fidelity increases.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across the board. The Low preset still manages a respectable 64.5 FPS, but the Medium preset falls to 37.9 FPS. High settings at this resolution yield an average of 31.1 FPS, and Ultra is nearly unplayable at 22.9 FPS. The trend continues at 3840x2160, where the system struggles significantly. Low settings produce 46.7 FPS, Medium drops to 31.8 FPS, High is at 22.7 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 17.8 FPS. These numbers illustrate that the GTX 1070 is a 1080p-class card for this game, with 1440p only being viable on the lowest settings. The data confirms that the performance gap between Low and Medium settings is substantial, often representing a near-50% reduction in frame rate, which is critical for understanding the GPU's limitations.